Grading and ditching machine



2 N O S P M 0 H T M R GRADING AND DITCHING MAGHINE'.

No; 429,368. PatentedJune 3, 1890.

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R. M. THOMPSON.

GRADING AND 'DITOHING MACHINE Patented June 3, 1890.

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REOTOR M. THOMPSON, OF CRAWFORD, NEBRASKA.

GRADING AND Dl'l'CHlNG MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 429,368, dated June 3, 1890.

Application filedJuly 19, 1889. Serial No. 317,995. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, REOTOR M. THOMPSON,

of Crawford, in the county of Dawes and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and Improved Grading and Ditching Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. My invention relates to an improvementin grading and ditching machines, and has for its object to provide a machine of simple and durable construction, wherein the scoop may be conveniently made to contact with the ground at an angle thereto and be expeditiously elevated therefrom when loaded, carried in such position and condition above the surface of the ground, and quickly dumped when desired.

A further object of the invention is to pro- Vide a frame with an attached caster-wheel at the rear of the scoop capable of riding over the broken surface of the ground and taking the weight oif of the team and inclining the frame to the rear, thereby preventing any great amount of dirt falling from the scoop when elevated and loaded.

A further object of the invention is to construct a scoop in such manner that a new bottom may be quickly substituted for a damaged one.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine partly broken awayand in section, illustrating the scoop in an elevated position; Fig. 2 is a similar view, partly in section, illustrating the scoop in contact with the ground and in position to be filled. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine; and Fig. 4 is a central vertical section, illustrating the scoop in the dumping position.

The main frame 10 of the machine is preferably constructed of metal, and is U-shaped in general contour, the bow-section being located at the rear, and'the forward extremity of each member of the U-frame is curved downward to form an integral perpendicular arm 11. Near the forward end of the frame an axle 12 is secured thereto in any suitable or approved mannenwhicli axle extends be yond the frame at each side, and that portion of the axle between the members of the frame is bowed or upwardly curved, as illustrated at A in Figs. 1 and 2.

Upon the center of the bow portion of the axle 12 a spring-latch 13 is rigidly secured at one end, which latch is curved forwardly and upwardly over and beyond the axle in the direction of the rear of the machine, the rear extremity being shaped to form a head 14.

Upon each outer end of the axle 12 a roadwheel 15 is loosely mounted, and the wheelbearings of the axle are protected by a sandcap 16, of any approved pattern, rigidly attached to the axle, as best shown in Fig. 3.

In the central portion of the bow-section of the frame 10 the standard 17 of a casterwheel 18 is pivoted, the standard being of such height that when the caster-Wheel and the large road-wheels 15 are in contact with the ground the frame will assume a rearward and downward inclination. The standard 17 of the caster-wheel is not pivoted in the frame 10 proper, but in a block 19, forming a rear extension of the frame, which block is secured tothe bow-section thereof, and the block 19, upon its rear face, preferably at or near the center, is provided with an integral lug 20, having an inclined outer face, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4.

A hoist-lever B is employed in connection with the frame, comprising a rearwardly-extending handle 21, having secured to the inner end two angle-arms 22, carried therefrom in opposite directions, the forward extremity of each of the said angle-arms being upwardly curved, as'illustrated at 23 in Figs. 1 and 2. Each arm at or near the commencement of the curve in its extremity is pivoted to the main frame 10 at opposite sides, as shown in Fig. 3.

The scoop D, which is adapted to occupy an essentially central position within the'main frame, is preferably constructed of two pieces 24 and I 25. The scoop is open at its forward end, and the section 24 consists of a strip of metal bent upon itself to form the sides and end, while the section 25 constitutes the bottom of the scoop and is made of a heavier material than the sides and end, comprising a strip of metal having upturned flanges 26 integral with the rear and side edges, which flanges contact with the corresponding faces of the upper section and are bolted thereto or otherwise secured. Near the forward end of each side of the scoop a standard 27 is attached, which standards are carried upward, and the said standards are pivoted to the curved ends 23 of angle-arms 22 of the hoist-lever 3, near the extremity of the said curved portion of the arms, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

To the forward extremity of each angle-arm 23 of the hoist-lever a curved link 28 is pivoted, the said links being slotted at their pivotal point, whereby they are rendered capable of a limited vertical movement.

The lower end of each link 28,which is forwardly curved, is pivoted to a curved latcharm 29, preferably slightly below the center, which latch-arms at their lower ends are pivotally attached to the scoop D, near the bottom and forward end of the latter. The latcharms 29one being located at each side of the scoop-are curved in the direction of the front of the machine and project beyond the upper edge of the scoop in the direction of the perpendicular arms 11 of the main frame 10, and terminate at their upper extremities in a hook 30, capablennder certain conditions, hereinafter set forth, of contact with a staple or pin 31, each of said staples or pins forming an integral portion of the inner face of the framearms ll,between the upper and lower ends of said arms, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

To the lower extremities of the frame-arms 11 the ends of the tongue-bar 32 are pivoted, and the tongue 33 is ordinarilybraced by bars 34:, secured at one end to opposite sides of the tongue, being pivotally connected at their opposite ends to the outer face of each of the frame-arms 11, as best shown in Fig. 3.

Between the rear ends of the angle arms 22 and the hoist-lever, or where said arms connect with the handle 21, an angled latch-lever 35 is fulcrumed, the horizontal member whereof at its lower end is provided with a head adapted for contact with the under face of a lug or projection 36, formed upon the rear end of the scoop at or near the center and top edge of the same.

Upon the handle 21 of the hoist-lever B a second angled latch-lever 37 is fnlcrumed, the lower en d of the perpendicularmember whereof is likewise provided with a head, which head is adapted for contact with the lug or projection 20, integral with the extensionblock 19 of the main frame, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

From each side of the scoop D at the rear an upwardly and rearwardly extending arm 38 is attached, constituting handles, whereby the operator is enabled to control the scoop when loweredto a contact with the ground.

In operation,when the hoist-lever Bis in a horizontal position and the latch-levers 35 and 37 engage, respectively, with the scoop and the blockextension of the main frame, the scoop is held above the surface of the ground, as shown in Fig. 1, and given a slight rearward inclination, whereby the earth contained in the scoop while in this elevated or carrying position is not liable to spill freely from the front thereof. 'lo lower the scoop to a contact with the ground, the latch-levers 35 and 37 are both disengaged and the hoist-lever is pushed forward, as illustrated in Fig. 2, whereby the scoop permitted to drop down, and the latch-arms 2!), attached to the scoop, are forced forward to a contact with the staples or pins 31 upon the arms 11 of the main frame. Thus the scoop is held firmly in its lower or loading position, and by reason of the peculiar linkconnection between the hoist-lever and the latch-arm 29, which is now fast, and the draft upon the main frame the hoist-lever is held in its elevated position and a rack and racklever are rendered unnecessary. The operator now grasps the handle 38, and slightly raising the same causes the front open end of the scoop to bury itself in the ground, the rear end being raised, and the scoop is filled with earth as the machine advances. When the scoop has received its load, the hoist-lever is pulled down to the horizontal position shown in Fig. 1, whereupon the scoop is elevated and held in the elevated position by the latchlever 35, the latch-lever 37 serving to bind the hoist-lever to the frame. To dump the scoop the latch-lever 37 only is disengaged, the latch-lever 35 being allowed to remain in contact with the scoop. 15y pushing the hoistlever forward and upward it is evident that the scoop may be carried to the forwardlyinclined position illustrated in Fig. 4, whereupon the spring-latch 13 engages with the offset or lug 36 upon the scoop next to the latchlever 35, thus effectually holding the scoop in its elevated position until the entire load has been discharged. To restore the scoop to its normal position, the spring-latch 13 is lifted out of engagement wit-h the scoop and the hoist-lever carried back to its horizontal position.

It is evident that by the attachment of the caster-wheel 18 to the frame the said wheel serves to remove the burden of support from the team, and, furthermore, the said casterwheel is capable of riding over any uneven surfaces that may be presented without affecting the position of the scoop while being carried in the loaded position.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a ditching and grading machine, the combination, with the main frame and a hoist- ITO lever pivoted in said frame, comprising opposed angle-arms, and a rearwardly-extending handle integral with said arms, of a scoop pivotally supported by the arms of the hoistlever, a latch-lever pivoted to the anglearm's, capable of contacting with a projeetionupon the rear of the scoop, and a second latch-lever pivoted upon the handle-section of the hoist-lever, capable of contact with a projection upon the main frame, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a ditching and grading machine, the combination, with an essentially U-shaped frame provided with downwardly-extending arms at the forward end, and a staple or pin secured to each of said arms, and a hoist-1ever pivoted within the main frame, comprising opposed angle-arms having their forward extremities upwardly curved beyond the pivotal point, and a handle-section uniting the rear ends of said arms, of a .scoop pivotally supported from the curved ends of the hoistlever, a curved latch-arm terminating in a hook at the upper end, pivoted at each side of the scoop, a link-connection between each of said curved latch-arms and the curved extremities of the hoist-lever, a latch-lever pivoted between the angle-arms of the hoist-lever and contacting with the scoop at the rear, and a second latch-lever pivoted to the handle of the hoist-lever and contacting with the main frame, all combined for operation substantially as shown and described.

3. In a ditching and grading machine, the combination, with an essentially U-shaped frame provided with downwardly-extending arms at the forward end, and a pin or staple secured to each of said arms, and a hoist-lever pivoted within the main frame, comprising opposed angle-arms having their forward extremities upwardly curved beyond the pivotal point, and a handle-section uniting the rear ends of said arms, of ascoop pivotally supported from the curved ends of the hoistlever, a curved latch-arm terminating in a hook at the upper end, pivoted at each side of the scoop, a link-connection between each of said curved latch-arms and the curved extremities of the hoist-lever, a latch-lever pivoted between the angle-arms of the hoist-lever and contacting with the scoop at the rear, a second latch-lever pivoted to the handle of the hoist-lever and contacting with the main frame, rearwardly-curved arms projected from the sides of the scoop, and a caster-Wheel pivoted in the rear of the main frame at the rear of the scoop, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The combination, with the frame and the axle, of the scoop, the hoist-lever pivoted to the frame and to the scoop, latches 29, pivoted at their lower ends to the sides of the scoop, at the forward end thereof, and hooked at their upper ends to engage the forward end of the frame at 31, links connecting the lifting-lever with the said latches, and means for connecting the hoist-lever to the rear end of the scoop and frame, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the rearwardly and downwardly inclined frame 10, having a block 19 at its rear end, provided with a projection 20, the caster-wheel having a pintle journaled in said block, the axle and wheels nearthe forward end of the frame, the hoistlever pivoted to the frame in rear of the axle and having a latch for engaging the projection 20, and a latch 35 in advance thereof, of the scoop pivotally connected with the forward end of the hoist-lever and having a lug 86 for the latch 35, substantially as set forth.

REOTOR M, THOMPSON. Y'Vitnesses:

W. H. FANNING, W. P. J AGKSON. 

